Press Release Summary = It is never too early to begin teaching a toddler about conservation and preservation. Even something as simple as brushing teeth has a conservation lesson.

Press Release Body = All parents work hard at instilling values in their children. Fairness, sharing and accountability are but a few. With everything on their plates, it is easy for parents to overlook teaching environmentally friendly behaviors. That is one of the reasons that Ellen McNeill of Fletcher, North Carolina created her online baby store, MyConservationBaby.com.

McNeill offers baby onesies and toddler tees with conservation messages such as Stop Global Warming and Protect the Environment. These educational clothes are designed to increase public awareness of important conservation issues and to serve as a reminder to a parent to tie a conservation message to activities with their toddler whenever possible. For example, McNeill says, even brushing teeth has a hidden conservation lesson that can be taught.

It is important to encourage positive, environmentally friendly behaviors as early as possible. If a parent starts instilling green values in their kids when they are young it will increase the likelihood that they will continue an environmentally friendly lifestyle into adulthood. McNeill offers ten easy ways to get a toddler interested in conservation and preservation.

1. Teach her respect for animals. Take her to a petting zoo for a hands-on experience and discussion.

2. Have him turn off the water when he is brushing his teeth and explain why it is important to conserve water.

3. Have her put bottles, aluminum cans, etc. in the household recycle bins to get into the habit of sorting and depositing items to recycle.

4. Tell him to turn off lights when they are not in use.

5. Encourage her to watch nature and discovery shows instead of cartoons.

6. Go to a nature store and purchase items that will help him learn about the environment.

7. Take him to a botanical garden to teach him to appreciate plants and trees. Buy him a plant that doesn’t need much water and have him take care of it and watch it grow.

8. Help her choose books on wildlife and nature at the library.

9. Encourage him to play outside with friends to learn to appreciate the great outdoors. (If you are concerned about your child’s safety stay outside with him and enjoy some quality time.)

10. Try to tie a conservation message to all activities that you do with your toddler.

It can be overwhelming for a parent (and a toddler) to teach or learn all of these lessons simultaneously. Parents should start with something easy (like shutting off the water when brushing teeth) and work from there. Environmental activist Laurie David says it best: "It's not a matter of doing everything. It's a matter of doing something."

McNeill shares messages that remind us that conservation and protection of our environment begins with us and our families. “Share your conservation knowledge with your little ones and with others important to you. It will make a world of difference.”